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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

GOD-FEARER

One who fears God. This can be a term of reverence, an emotional reaction of terror, or a dread of God’s vengeance.

Phrases describing the God-fearer in the OT are frequently coupled with such terms as “stood in awe” and “held in awe” (1 Chr 16:25; Ps 22:23). Reverence for the Lord is used less frequently, but it is used with this meaning when Obadiah hid the prophets in a cave to save them from being assassinated by Jezebel (1 Kgs 18:3-4, 12). A man could expect to receive justice from a God-fearing ruler (2 Sm 23:3; 2 Chr 19:7), and long life was a reward for those who feared the Lord (Prv 10:27; 14:27; 19:23). A God-fearing family would rely on the Lord for practical help in time of trouble (2 Kgs 4:1; Prv 14:26). The fear of the Lord was effective in driving away sin and was itself the beginning of wisdom (Wisd of Sol 10:13).

In the NT fear of God is frequently used in conjunction with admonitions to love and serve the Lord (Col 3:22; 1 Pt 2:17). In the Magnificat, Mary’s statement “His mercy is on those who fear him” is used in the sense of revere and obey (Lk 1:50). In Acts, the term “God-fearer” is given a specific interpretation, being used with reference to Gentiles who attended the synagogue. Paul mentions them separately when introducing his address: “Men of Israel, and you that fear God” (Acts 13:16, rsv). Cornelius was an honest, generous, and God-fearing Roman centurion who, although not a Jew, was recognized as leading a life acceptable to the Lord (10:2, 35).

The fear of God was also used in both the OT and the NT to denote dread or terror of the mighty power and judgment of the Lord (Gn 3:10; Dt 9:19; Jb 6:4; 9:28-29; Ps 76:8; Mt 17:7; 28:10; Lk 5:10; 12:5; Acts 5:5, 11; 1 Tm 5:20).